Being a new immigrant in New York City is an exciting, but challenging journey. Starting a life from scratch in the Big City offers a chance for a new beginning. We look forward to creating a blog that supports new immigrants through their first critical years here. Together we will create a narrative of common experiences, share practical information and discuss issues we face every day.

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The ARNIC Observer is a newspaper written, compiled and produced by the Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center’s members. Special English classes, English Through Newspapers and English Through Printed Media, taught by Robert Speziale, produce these newspapers as class projects. Immigrants share their stories, practice their reporting and writing skills and take photographs for this paper. Enjoy!

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations is looking for motivated New Yorkers ready to take the next step and start a promising new career. No previous experience is necessary, but you must be ready to train and work full-time. All BWI programs are free of charge.

Brooklyn Woods – Careers in Woodworking
Seven-week training in entry-level woodworking skills. Brooklyn Woods runs five cycles per year and is always recruiting for a future training cycle. Orientations are held nearly every Wednesday at 10 AM at 125 8th Street, Brooklyn. Click on the link above for detailed information regarding the program, how to apply, and directions.
The “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program – Careers in TV and Film Production
Five-week training program for individuals who want to start a career in TV and film production. Leads to certification by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting and two years of job placement assistance.

Happy holidays to all bi-cultural “old” and “new” Americans!
Today, September 23 is Yom Kippur, a Day of Atonement, the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer and repentance.
Today and tomorrow is Eid al-Adha, when Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham’s trials, by themselves sacrificing an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat.
Sunday, September 27 is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest festival celebrated by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese people with family gatherings, lanterns and mooncakes!

English-learners, recent New Yorkers write about food in New York. Collection of stories from the De Gustibus column in #TheARNICObserver.

From The ARNIC Observer, Summer 2015

Uzbek Cuisine
By Indira Laktaeva

In Uzbekistan, the country alive with the mysteries of the Silk Road, you can feel the atmosphere of the magical East. Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva are the major cities of this beautiful country rich with nature and kindhearted people.

If you want to visit this enchanted place without leaving NYC, have a meal at 1001 Nights, a restaurant in Brooklyn at 35 Neptune Avenue in Sheepshead Bay. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and modern. You can see art and enjoy decor in full Uzbek style with colorful carpets, chandeliers, curtains, dishes, folk musical instruments and miniatures.

Friendly staff and an interesting menu with traditional national food will greet you. Most famous is Plov (pilaf), prepared with lamb, rice, onions and carrots flavored with garlic and cumin. This dish is traditional in all Uzbek families for every day, as well as for celebrations on different events from birthdays to weddings with sweet raisins added to symbolize the good life.

You can choose and try one of the soups of Uzbek cuisine. They are lagman with homemade noodles, shurpa with vegetables, chuchvara with meat dumplings and mastava with rice. Last time I visited, I ordered shurpa. It was delicious with the tender light taste of a traditional meat soup with fresh vegetables and young lamb. Shurpa boosts your appetite and gives you energy for the entire day. Shurpa is also served with fresh herbs such as cilantro or dill.

We also ordered manti with meat, which are served with sour cream. They are large steamed dumplings that were delicious and melted in the mouth. There are manti with pumpkin if you are a vegan. We also ordered salad with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, olives and onions dressed with oil and black pepper. It was a very good appetizer.

We also had non — specially prepared circle bread. One of the main traditions in Uzbekistan when you have a surprise guest is to honor him at table with hot tea and bread. Non is the main food for a guest and is very nourishing. For drinks at the restaurant, we had black tea with lemon, but stronger libations such as beer and wine, vodka, cognac, and tequila are available. Our total order came to about $20 for a person.

In addition, there are different kinds of shish kebabs: lamb, beef, liver, chicken, salmon and vegetables on skewers. One of the most famous foods is somsa. You have to taste it. It is homemade puffs of baked dough with cubes of lamb. When you have guests in the traditional Uzbek household, and on holidays and for special celebrations, you will serve in a definite order. First, guests are offered tea, non, different kinds of nuts, raisins, seasonal fruits and candies. Next, somsa is offered to guests. After that you may be served shurpa or another soup.

For the next dish, guests might have pilaf with fresh salad or it could be manti. You will never go hungry in the Uzbek home. As an evening guest at 1001 Nights you can enjoy Belly dancing, which is simply amazing, or you can listen not only to eastern but also modern and club music with songs in different languages.

Do your life different, visit this place, meet Uzbek culture, and revel in the traditions of this ancient, warm, friendly and peaceful country.